SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) – If you have kids who shop at Urban Outfitters you may want to take a second look at what they buy next time. Urban Outfitters is getting national attention for peppering some of its products with foul language.
You hear it at the movies, kids say it at school, but you probably don’t expect the “f-word” to pop up on products in stores children can shop at.
“It’s very inappropriate,” said Torsten Klunker, Gateway Mall visitor.
“What do you think of that?” Reporter Brian Carlson asked one shopper.
“Is it offensive to you?” Carlson asked Gateway Mall visitor Angie Baskett.
“Yes,” Baskett said.
We’re talking about stickers Urban Outfitters as of Monday evening had at its cash registers and several of its other products that feature the “f-word” in prominent display.
“Would you buy something that said a word like this?” Carlson asked Gateway Mall visitor George McHugh.
“No,” McHugh said.
“It doesn’t bug you?” Carlson asked Gateway Mall visitor Joshua Tausinga.
“No,” said Tausinga.
The company’s cuss word merchandise is making national attention after an upset mother in New Jersey saw them on Urban Outfitters’ website. Monday Carlson showed it to Salt Lake advertising executive Tal Harry from Ritcher7. He told ABC 4 it’s definitely meant to attract attention of younger shoppers.
“I have no doubt they’re going to sell a lot of product but at the end of the day- is that what you want to stand for as a company?” said Tal Harry, Ritcher7 Executive Vice President.
Carlson showed the controversial products to shoppers outside the Salt Lake Urban Outfitters. Some thought it was fine.
“If they don’t like what Urban Outfitters is putting out, don’t need to buy Urban Outfitters stuff,” said McHugh.
“It’s a sense of expression and it’s part of the fashion industry- whatever attracts a customer to come in the store. It’s perfect. It’s great,” said Bom Choi, Gateway Mall visitor.
But others thought it was in poor taste.
“I do believe in the freedom of free speech, but I think when you’re marketing it towards younger kids it is offensive,” said Baskett.
So we may hear it a lot, but seeing it out shopping appears to be different.
Monday night ABC 4 tried to contact Urban Outfitters corporate headquarters, but their east coast offices were already closed.
